Convertible boat.



W. OFFENBURGER.

CONVERTIBLE BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 11, 1912.

1,048,337. Patented Deo. 24, 1912.

l 0 3 nucfwto'o I @Normaal WILLIAMvOFFEYNBURGER, 0F EVERGREEN, NEW YORK.

CONVEItTIBLE BOAT. i

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 24,1912.

Application lled J'uly l11., 1912. Serial N0. 708,905.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM OFFEN- BURGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Evergreen, Long Island, in the county of Queens and State of New York, have invented certain' new 4and useful Improve-v ments in 'Convertible Boats, of which the following is a specification.

This inventionrelates to improvements in convertible boats, susceptible of operation both upon ice orsnow, as well as upon water, the object in view being to provide in combination, a wind propelled boat so mounted upon aV sleigh attachment as to be' capable of performing the function above mentioned. Such devices as contemplated, are particularly adapted for racing, or other sports in those regions abounding in lakes which are completelyfrozen overat times'during the cold season, affording opportunity for use either as the ordinary boat, or over frozen surfaces.

For a full understanding of the present invention,y reference is to be had to the following description and to the accompanying drawings,'in whichf Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device constructed in accordance with my inven-l tion; Fig. 2 is a top planview; Fig. 3 is a plan View of the sleigh attachment alone; and F ig. 4 is a'fragmentary view in elevation of a modified form of cradle.

` Throughout the following detail descrip-I tion and on'the several figures of the drawings, `similar parts are referred to yby like reference characters.v f

Specifically describing my invention 1 designates a boat which may be of any prewhen itA is operated seats 10 for `ivith the motor 2 by t ferred. form and construction, provided with a motor 2 which is adapted to drive a wind propeller3. The propeller 3 is mounted upon one end of a horizontal shaft 4, revolub. mounted in the upper portions ofA standards 5 secured to the sternof the boat 1,y said shafft being operatively connected he drive chain 6. The boat is furthermore provided with the conventional rudder. 7 for steering the same in water. .The boat is also provided adjacent the motor 2 lwith av mechanicianseat 8 beneath which is located the gasolene or fueltank 9, and suitable assengers, are located )amid- -ship. The drlvers seat-11 is provided near -such as in -the arctic regions,

the bow of the boat and at a convenient point for operation of the steering wheel 12.

The boat thus briefly described, is adapted to be detachably mounted upon a sleigh attachment consisting essentially of the forward runners 13 and the rear stationary runners 14. l The forward runners are pivotally mounted at the ends of the'cross beam 15, which latter is connected with the cross beams 16 connecting the rear runners 14, by means of the lon itudinal frame member 17. A cradle, or cri structure supporting the boat, comprises a plurality of transverse knees 18, each of which is of a suitable shape to conform with the sides of the boat, and they extend throughout its length. At the forwardiend of the longitudinal member 17, is also provided a bow extension 18 forming a seat to receive the bow of the boat 1, and the latter is positively held in position in the cradle, by means of braces 19 which inipinge against cleats 20 secured to the sides of the boat, and other cleats 20"-, transverse beams 15 and I6, forward and rear runners.v

Steering mechanism is provided for the forward runners, somewhat similar to that employed for automobiles, and consisting of theV transverse rod 21 connected by means of the arms 22 with the stub shafts 23,on which the forward runners 13 are mounted. A .steering gear connecting link 24, operatively connects the bar 2l with the lower end of the steering post 25.

The o eratin of the invention will be obvious rom the foregoilw description, and it will be understood a so, that various changes in the details of construction in ay readily be made, without departing fromlthe spirit ofimy invention, and within the scope of the claims appended-hereto.

The advantages of a (device comprehended by my invention, are numerous, particularly when employed in exploring expeditions, where it is desired to use propelling means over ,the

connecting the 'ice or snow, as well as to provide for traveling in open Waters.

-ln Fig. 4 I have illustrated a modified form. of crib, wherein the knees 1S are pivotally mounted on each side of the longitudinal frame member 17, and provided with an aperturedv Kprojection or eye 17b through which is passed a bai' 26. The bars.n

secured to the 26 extend throughout the length of the boat on each side and engage beneath the braces 19 forming` the cradle as hereinbefore described. The boat may thus be removed Without lifting, by withdrawing a bar Q6, permitting the knees to drop, and rollers 27 carried by the member 17 facilitate the handling, as will be obvious.

Having thus described the what is claimed as new is:

l. ln a device of theclass described, a boat, detachable sleigh attachment upon which said boat is carried, and-comprising@r runners, a cradle, and means tor positively holding the boat in position upon the runners, steering` mechanism operable from the boat and connected with said runners, and propelling` means for driving the device in or out of Water.

In a device of the, class described, a boat, a sleigh attachment upon which said boat is mounted and comprising` a cradle consisting of a plurality of knees, a frame upon which said knees are carried, runners mounted on said frame, braces connecting; the runners and the boat to positively hold the same in 'position upon the frame, steering mechanism connected with the runners invent-ion,

and operable from the boat, and Wind propelling means for driving the device either 1n or out of Water.

3. In combination with a boat and Wind propelling apparatus of a sleigh attachment upon which said boat is mounted and comprising front and rear runners, a connecting frame for said runners to which the front runners are pivotally connected, a bow extension formingI scat for the bow of the boat and carried by the frame aforesaid, a cradle comprising a plurality of knees secured to the frame aforesaid, braces coperating With the frame and sides of the boat to positively hold the latter in position upon the frame, and steering,- mechanism consisting' of a transverse bar operatively connected with the front runners, and a steering Wheel mounted .in the boat andl operatively connected with the bar aforesaid, tl'irough the bottom of said boat.

In testimony whereof l alin' my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

VILLIAM OFFEN BURGER.

Witnesses:

HARRY N. HELLRIEGEL, FRANK X. BADER. 

